AFP logo at EBB Canberra

Skilled Police Program

Grow your policing career with the AFP. If you're a state or territory police officer, consider a lateral transfer.
Diverse roles Locations Apply now

Take the next step in your police career with a move to Australia's national policing agency. One of the most adaptive, effective and advanced police forces in the world.

We recognise and reward current and recent operational policing experience through our Skilled Police Program.

As a skilled police officer, you can make a lateral transfer to an AFP role in locations across Australia. With opportunities to deploy overseas.

Also, AFP has no cap on tenure in specialist roles. This means you can do the job you love for longer.

Roles available

These are our current openings for police officers with prior service.

Apply your policing skills to combat major national and international criminal threats. Join us as an investigative police officer.

AFP national investigative officers:

  • prevent and disrupt criminal activity
  • respond to emerging threats against the Commonwealth
  • protect Commonwealth interests in Australia and overseas.

Officers work with national and international agencies to combat terrorism, counter child sexual exploitation, tackle transnational and organised crime, combat cybercrime, and counter fraud and corruption.

In this critical role, you'll:

  • work on long and complex investigations, often with global partners
  • use information and evidence to determine the appropriate law-enforcement response
  • interview suspects and witnesses
  • collect, prepare and present evidence
  • work with prosecution agencies, attend court and give evidence
  • have the chance to work with multidisciplinary teams across various roles.

 

Apply now

Are you an experienced canine handler? Are you looking to broaden your horizons, expand your skills and work with some of Australia’s best detection dogs? Join our Canine Operations team.

AFP Canine Operations responds to detection and general-purpose canine tasks in Australia. It supports aviation security, community policing, and federal and international operations.

The program trains and develops dogs to support our operations in:

  • detecting firearms and explosives
  • detecting money and drugs
  • detecting electronic storage devices
  • responding to high-risk and critical situations
  • searching for missing people or offenders
  • maintaining public order.

General-purpose canine handlers

Our general-purpose dogs live with their handlers.

You and your dog will help with such duties as:

  • looking for offenders and missing people
  • responding to critical incidents
  • supporting Tactical Response operations.

Detection canine handlers

Our detection dogs live in centralised kennels.

You'll maintain and deploy detection canines to support our operations in aviation, protection and community policing. You and your dog will help us detect items such as cash, drugs, explosives, firearms and technology.

Apply now

We have roles in Canberra, Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane for skilled police officers to join the AFP in 3 key surveillance roles.

Physical surveillance officers

Are you an experienced police officer keen to develop a career in physical surveillance?

You can apply by providing evidence of:

  • successfully completing a Foundation Surveillance Program or equivalent
  • subsequently being attached to a full-time physical surveillance team.

Minimum service in a full-time team should be 12 months, undertaken within the past 5 years.

Technical surveillance officers

Are you interested in applying for a position in technical surveillance?

You can apply for a position when advertised on our Jobs portal.

During our selection process, you must complete the entry requirements of AFP's technical surveillance training continuum.

If you have recent experience attached to a technical surveillance team, you would need to:

  • meet the AFP officer recruitment requirements
  • undertake a one-day entry selection program and psychometric testing, where Technical Surveillance Training Team members validate your skills.

Depending on your technical skill set, we'll tell you which parts of the training continuum you must do. We consider each applicant in consultation with the Officer in Charge, Covert and Technical Operations Training and Practices.

Surveillance training officers

Want to join our Technical Surveillance Training Team?

Apply now

If you want to continue using your community policing skills while contributing to Australian national security, an airport policing role with the AFP could be the perfect next step in your career.

AFP airport police officers keep nine major Australian airports safe and combat crime that crosses national and international borders. Along with providing counter-terrorism first response, airport police support broader AFP operations that target criminals across national and international borders.

We have roles available for skilled police officers to join the AFP as airport police officers in Darwin.

Apply now

Do you want to build on your skills in community policing with all the benefits and opportunities that a career in the AFP provides?

ACT Policing, the community policing arm of the AFP, provide law enforcement in the Australian Capital Territory.

In this position, you can expect to complete 6 months of general duty operations before having the ability to transition into specialist investigation units in ACT Policing, such as:

  • Criminal Investigations
  • Family Violence and Vulnerable People
  • Drugs and Organised Crime
  • Fraud
  • Intelligence
  • Communications and Judicial Operations.
     

Apply now

Skilled Police Program graduates

Hear about our Skilled Police Program from two of our recent graduates.

Eligibility

Are you driven by an intelligent, problem-solving approach to tackling serious crime? Willing to adapt and learn to overcome problems? Self-motivated and willing to learn new skills? Physically fit and healthy? You could be a good fit in the AFP.

To transfer to the AFP as a skilled police officer, you must:

  • be an Australian citizen
  • hold a Diploma of Public Safety (Policing) or equivalent qualification
  • have at least 3 years of operational policing experience in Australia
  • have worked in your Australian policing role within the past 5 years
     
  • hold a valid Australian driver's licence
  • meet our character standards
  • hold or undergo a Negative Vetting 1 or 2 security clearance
  • be physically fit and healthy.

During our selection process, we'll ask for proof that you:

  • hold current first aid and CPR certifications
  • have had a police service history, including work in Australia in the past 5 years.
     

You may progress faster through our selection process if you:

  • can deploy to locations where we have current vacancies
  • have strong skills and experience related to a vacant position.

How to apply

Head to our AFP Jobs portal to apply at any time.

You'll need to include:

  • a résumé of your work history, responsibilities and achievements
  • proof of Australian citizenship
  • current Australian driver's licence (back and front)
  • certificates of qualifications, including a Diploma of Policing Certificate or equivalent.

We generally have 2 intakes a year. However, our selection process can take several months.

Ask us if you have any questions before you start your application. We’ll guide you through every step of the way.

Apply now

We send you a permanent job offer before you start paid training at AFP College. The offer includes a deployment location, so you'll know where you'll be working after doing the Skilled Police Program.

Medical and psychological assessment

As part of the recruitment process, you need to undertake a medical and psychological assessment.

  • monocular visual acuity of 6/9 or better in each eye (you can wear glasses or contact lenses)
  • binocular visual acuity of 6/6 or better (you can wear glasses or contact lenses)
  • unaided binocular visual acuity of 6/36 or better (no glasses or contact lenses)
  • near vision N8, aided or unaided
  • hearing level averaging 25 dB or less between 0.5 kHz and 3 kHz in both the left and right ear without a hearing aid
  • hearing level of 40 dB or less at 4.0 kHz in either ear without a hearing aid.

Our contracted health service providers will assess any medical condition that you have. They'll confirm whether you can complete the job safely and effectively. They may need you to provide reports from specialists, which you'll need to supply at your own expense.

You're unlikely to meet the medical standards if you have:

  • an unreconstructed shoulder following dislocation (we'll likely need an MRI or MRA scan)
  • unreconstructed anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
  • epilepsy, unless you meet the requirements for an unrestricted commercial driver's licence
  • bleeding disorders, clotting disorders or current treatment with anticoagulants.

We consider some medical conditions on a case-by-case basis. The AFP Chief Medical Officer will make the final decision about any medical condition.

Vision

  • Colour deficiency
  • History of retinal detachment, glaucoma, radical keratotomy, full-thickness corneal transplant or acute keratotomy

Musculoskeletal

  • Shoulder subluxation (an MRI may be required)
  • Clinically evident osteoarthritis of the knee (X-ray changes and effusion)
  • Shin splints or compartment syndrome
  • Clinical signs of a lumbar nerve root (straight leg raise limitation less than 40 degrees)
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Chondromalacia, patella dislocation or tracking disorder, cruciate ligament repair or meniscectomy
  • Prior joint surgery or joint replacement surgery
  • Back pain or injury
  • Lumbar spine fusion
  • Poor muscular development, abnormal gait and limitation of movement of a joint.

Respiratory

  • Asthma (supporting reports will be required)
  • Chronic obstructive airways disease, chronic bronchitis or bronchiectasis
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Recurrent pneumothorax.

Neurological

  • Migraines and cluster headaches
  • Organic disease of the nervous system.

Endocrine

  • Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
  • Thyroid disorders.

Cardiovascular

  • Systolic blood pressure over 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure over 90 mm Hg
  • Organic disease of the heart or arteries
  • A history of deep vein thrombosis.

Gastroenterological

  • Liver disease
  • Hernia
  • Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Other conditions

  • Organic disease of the bladder or kidney
  • Current chronic fatigue
  • Leukaemia, polycythaemia or myelofibrosis
  • Bleeding disorders, clotting disorders or current treatment with anticoagulants
  • HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C
  • Some chronic skin conditions
  • Narcolepsy or sleep apnoea
  • BMI far outside your healthy weight range
  • Tinnitus
  • Cancer

Any condition that results in a 'conditional' driver's licence under Assessing fitness to drive for commercial and private vehicle drivers – Medical standards for licensing and clinical management guidelines (2022 edition).

You need to demonstrate your psychological and emotional resilience through psychological testing and a face-to-face interview with a registered psychologist. As long as your personal situation doesn’t change, the results of this assessment are valid for 12 months.

We’ll assess you on your strengths in these areas:

  • teamwork
  • emotional self-control
  • conflict resolution
  • decision-making under stress
  • ability to understand other people's behaviour.

We’ll also ask you about any current or past psychological or psychiatric conditions. Even if you don’t have a current or past condition, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll pass this gateway.

If you're neurodivergent or have a learning disability, you may need extra assessments.

If you have a prior diagnosis or history of a psychological or psychiatric condition, you'll be asked to provide relevant information. This includes whether you have been treated for these conditions with therapy or medication.

You will not pass this assessment if you:

  • have a condition such as bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders or another diagnosis that has led to psychiatric hospitalisation or has required treatment
  • are currently taking any form of prescription psychotropic medication (prescription medication that can affect your mind, emotions or behaviour), such as sertraline (commonly sold as Zoloft), citalopram (Cipramian, Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), duloxetine (Cymbalta), mirtazapine, venlafaxine (Effexor) or diazepam (Valium).

If you decide to stop taking psychotropic medications, you must do this in consultation with a registered medical practitioner. The medical practitioner must also supervise your withdrawal. They’ll have to give us written evidence that you have successfully withdrawn from medication and have been symptom-free for at least 12 months before you can reapply.

Successful withdrawal from psychotropic medication doesn't guarantee that you will clear this gateway.

Training

As part of your lateral transfer to the AFP, you'll complete our Skilled Police Program.

The training includes:

  • classroom learning
  • practical topics, such as use-of-force and driver training
  • practical scenarios for learning and assessment
  • individual and group activities.

If you live in Canberra, you can ask to live off-site. But we'd prefer you to stay at AFP College during training. It's a great way to build a network of colleagues.

Skilled police program

Length

10 weeks

Salary

Generous salary plus 15.4% superannuation

Benefits

Free single room, free main meals, mobile phone and laptop

Location

AFP College in Canberra, close to Kingston and Lake Burley Griffin

Facilities

24/7 gym, fitness classes, coffee shop, bar, dining hall, laundry, ATM, access to health practitioners

We run 2 training courses each year, depending on operational requirements.

We don’t offer relocation assistance until we offer you a job. But you'll get paid a salary while you train with us in Canberra. We also provide main meals and accommodation at AFP College.

Our offer to you

A skilled police officer making a lateral transfer to the AFP gets:

  • opportunities to progress their career
  • relocation assistance
  • a competitive salary package, including a 22% composite allowance on top of your annual base salary (depending on your work area placement)
  • exceptional leave allowances, including 6 weeks annual leave and extra Christmas stand-down
  • 15.4% superannuation, including during all periods of parental leave.

Skilled police officer salaries

Your pay rates and entitlements are set out in our Enterprise Agreement (EA).

When you join us, your starting salary reflects your prior experience. We'll negotiate your salary as part of your job offer. These are examples of starting salaries.

Prior experienceBand and rankBase salary per year before taxAverage potential earnings per year before tax*
3 years of service3.3 – Constable$78,221.00$95,429.62
6 years of service4.2 – First Constable$87,904.00$107,242.88
9 years of service5.2 – Senior Constable$103,429.00$126,183.38
10+ years of service5.3 – Leading Senior Constable$107,559.00$131,221.98

* Average potential earnings include a 22% composite allowance but not superannuation, extra allowances, overtime and penalties.

Benefits and conditions

We know you want a job that pays you what you're worth.

Earn a competitive salary with generous holidays and other benefits.

Leave, pay and benefits

Rewarding career

A whole world of opportunities.

AFP officer in uniform crouching down with his AFP canine (German Shephard) facing away from the camera.

Leading Senior Constable Dominic made a lateral transfer to the AFP. He likened it to moving from a state football team to playing for Australia.

From the moment I came across from the state police, I’ve been made to feel so welcome at every level, at every rank … it’s just a fantastic place to be. Not just in work, but out of work as well. It’s like one big family.

Dominic

Leading Senior Constable, National Canine Operations – Perth

Choose us

Job security

Ongoing, full-time employment with lots of benefits

Australia-wide

Capital cities, Australian locations or even deploy overseas

Feel welcome

We welcome Australian citizens from all walks of life

Valuable skills

Grow your skills to tackle national and global threats

Get in touch

AFP Recruitment

Email us anytime.

Or call us Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 
4 pm Canberra time.

+61 2 5127 2555
afprecruitment@afp.gov.au
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